@wesseldawn I have also been searching for information on my great aunt who mysteriously disappeared from her home in Glasgow at the age of 13 in 1897. I contacted The Mitchell Library, Scotland’s People and NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde to see if they had any information on her, as I suspect she may have been sent to Lochburn Hospital or a similar institution in Glasgow. Unfortunately, no one seems to have any information/records on these young women.
This was the response I received from the NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde.
“Thank you for your enquiry. I'm sorry to tell you that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde does not hold patient records for either the Magdalene Institution or the Lock Hospital.
The Lock Hospital had an unusual administrative history as it (like the Magdalene Institution) was founded by subscription and was never part of the mainstream hospital provision which would eventually become part of the National Health Service. It was originally founded to treat venereal disease, but latterly it treated various other women's conditions as well. I understand that the hospital was taken over by the military during WW2, but subsequently when the civilian authorities were given back control of the building it was decided to close it down, and at this point patient records and so forth seem not to have been kept. This is why I am unable to advise you about where to look.
I don't know of any surviving patient records for the Glasgow Magdalene Institution either, I'm afraid. The University of Glasgow Special Collections (
http://www.gla.ac.uk/services/specialcollections/ ) has some holdings relating to the institution, but I believe they are restricted to printed matter such as annual reports.
I'm very sorry not to be able to offer more assistance”.
If my Great Aunt was indeed admitted to any of these infamous institutions, I’m afraid I will never know her outcome.
